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106
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
The following pamphlet (containing additional information),
was prepared in the early part of the year, and this has been distributed
since May, and has been much appreciated by mothers.
The pamphlet is on the lines of the model pamphlet drawn up by the
Society of Medical Officers of Health.
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF WANDSWORTH.
ADVICE ON THE REARING AND
FEEDING OF INFANTS.
ADVICE TO MOTHERS.
Keep yourself in good health. The health of your baby depends
on your own during pregnancy.
Take good and wholesome food at regular meals only.
Do not take spirits, beer, stout or much tea, but rather milk or cocoa.
When possible take exercise in the open air every day, and keep your
window open night and day.
1. FEED YOUR BABY REGULARLY, BY THE CLOCK, NOT
BY GUESS WORK OR WHENEVER IT CRIES. Babies get indigestion,
feel uncomfortable, and cry if they are not fed at regular times.
2. NEVER GIVE YOUR BABY A DUMMY TEAT. It is simply
a bad habit, and is dirty and dangerous.
3. As babies sometimes cry because they are thirsty, sips of warm
water may be given.
BREAST FEEDING
MOTHER'S MILK IS THE BEST, CHEAPEST AND
SAFEST FOOD FOR INFANTS.
1. Get your baby into good and regular habits of feeding. Babies
form bad habits just as easily as grown-up people.
2. Keep the child at the breast about ¼-hour at each feed.
3. Do not feed more often than every two hours during the day
and once between 11 at night and 6 in the morning. Never let the baby
feed too fast. Wake the baby if asleep at feeding times.
4. The time between feeds should be gradually increased until by
the beginning of the third month the breast is given every three hours,
and at the age of six months five times in the day and not at all between
11 at night and 6 in the morning. The best times are 6 a.m., 10 a.m. ,
2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. In this way the mother gets her rest at night
and so does the baby's stomach.
WEANING.
Keep the baby on the breast entirely for nine months, if possible
Never wean during July, August or September if you can help it. Wean
slowly, giving first one feed of cows' milk a day, and then gradually
increasing the number. Crusts of bread with butter or dripping and a
lightly boiled egg may now be added.